Research | Catalyst Diagnostics | Project

Detailed operando spectroscopy of catalytic reactions

Detailed operando spectroscopy of catalytic reactions
1st promotor: Prof. Albert van den Berg
2nd promotor: Prof. Bert Weckhuysen (UU)
1st supervisor and co-promotor: Associate Prof. Mathieu Odijk
2nd supervisor: Prof. Guido Mul
Affiliation: University of Twente
Research theme: Catalyst Diagnostics to Develop More Active Catalysts

BIOS has recently purchased the IRSweep instrument, enabled by investment funding from the MCEC program. The unique feature of this instrument is to complete a single scan of ~100cm^-1 within 1μs. This offers unprecedented opportunities in the detailed study of reaction kinetics using mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy.

Following reactions at the microsecond timescale offers unique opportunities to follow reaction mechanisms in detail. The way these measurements are typically conducted is by triggering the reaction with high precision. To enable a higher signal to noise ratio, this triggered reaction is repeated many times. Essential for this to work is high control of this trigger, and a stable reaction that won’t change between the first and last event. E.g. photocatalytic reactions can be triggered by light pulses.

However, tools for more elaborate triggering mechanisms at this time scale do not exist yet. It is the aim of this project to develop such tools, using either electrochemical triggers, or small reaction chambers with fast switching valves. Moreover, to limit the required number of repeats single mode waveguides will be designed to enhance the sensitivity and ultimately enable single scan experiments. In parallel, these thin waveguides can be used as membranes for operando X-Ray spectroscopy.

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